Joy in My Soul: The Complete SAR Recordings

Liner Note Author: Bill Dahl.
Recording information: Neophon Recording, Hollywood (01/28/1964); RCA Studios, Hollywood (01/28/1964); United Recording, Hollywood (01/28/1964); Universal Recording, Chicago (01/28/1964); Neophon Recording, Hollywood (02/1963); RCA Studios, Hollywood (02/1963); United Recording, Hollywood (02/1963); Universal Recording, Chicago (02/1963); Neophon Recording, Hollywood (02/27/1963); RCA Studios, Hollywood (02/27/1963); United Recording, Hollywood (02/27/1963); Universal Recording, Chicago (02/27/1963); Neophon Recording, Hollywood (07/20/1964); RCA Studios, Hollywood (07/20/1964); United Recording, Hollywood (07/20/1964); Universal Recording, Chicago (07/20/1964); Neophon Recording, Hollywood (08/1964); RCA Studios, Hollywood (08/1964); United Recording, Hollywood (08/1964); Universal Recording, Chicago (08/1964); Neophon Recording, Hollywood (09/01/1959); RCA Studios, Hollywood (09/01/1959); United Recording, Hollywood (09/01/1959); Universal Recording, Chicago (09/01/1959); Neophon Recording, Hollywood (09/06/1960); RCA Studios, Hollywood (09/06/1960); United Recording, Hollywood (09/06/1960); Universal Recording, Chicago (09/06/1960); Neophon Recording, Hollywood (09/07/1960); RCA Studios, Hollywood (09/07/1960); United Recording, Hollywood (09/07/1960); Universal Recording, Chicago (09/07/1960); Neophon Recording, Hollywood (09/20/1961); RCA Studios, Hollywood (09/20/1961); United Recording, Hollywood (09/20/1961); Universal Recording, Chicago (09/20/1961); Neophon Recording, Hollywood (10/03/1961); RCA Studios, Hollywood (10/03/1961); United Recording, Hollywood (10/03/1961); Universal Recording, Chicago (10/03/1961).
Sam Cooke got his first break in the music business as a member of the respected gospel harmony group the Soul Stirrers, and while he left the group to pursue a career as a secular pop singer -- and became a star after 1957's "You Send Me" became a smash hit -- he never abandoned his loyalty to the group. In 1961, after Cooke became a regular visitor to the pop charts, he founded his own label, SAR Records, to help promote worthy African-American artists, and he promptly added the Soul Stirrers to the label's roster. Joy in My Soul: The Complete SAR Recordings is a two-disc set that collects all 33 sides the Soul Stirrers recorded during their tenure with SAR (including four previously unreleased performances), featuring lead vocals by Jimmie Outler, Paul Foster, S.R. Crain, James Phelps, and future R&B star Johnnie Taylor. Joy in My Soul is a real find for fans of vintage gospel, as well as Sam Cooke followers interested in his work as a producer and A&R man. ~ Mark Deming